Ash Glazed Teapot – 200ml

This one-of-a-kind kyusu (teapot) has a narrow foot that flares out to a wide body before tapering back to a small lid, topped with a pointed knob. The body of the kyusu is decorated with finer vertical lines that snake their way down to the foot. Fired in a wood-burning anagama (穴窯) kiln, the kyusu sports a unique pattern of red-orange fire marks on one side, while the rest is covered in a greyish wood ash glaze, with darker spots of ash in a goma (sesame seed) pattern. It has a built-in ceramic sasame filter is perfect for naturally straining tea, with a wide shape for faster pouring and less clogging.

This kyusu comes in its original kiribako (桐箱 – paulownia wood box) signed and sealed by the artist.

Made by Shiraiwa Taisuke (白岩大祐). Born in 1985 in Hokkaido, this young potter moved to Tokoname in 2010 to train under legendary kyusu artist Konishi Yohei (小西洋平), before moving back to Hakodate, Hokkaido to open his own wood-fired anagama (穴窯) kiln.